So, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Probably since I was little and I’m not sure I’ve figured it out yet…What kind of dog is the Disney character Goofy? We all know he’s a dog of sorts. Some weird type of anthropomorphic dog, but what kind of dog? Or dogs? Or part-dog, part-human mix?

I’ve decided that Goofy is foremost an anthropomorphic dog. While his head certainly appears to be canine, the rest of him is distinctly humanistic. And he has a very humanistic personality. He has a slight beagle look to him–a long, slender snout, floppy ears, two-toned fur. So perhaps he a type of hound. Or part-hound. But mostly human…

The reason I’ve decided that Goofy is more human than dog is simple: he’s not a pet. The Disney character Pluto is definitely Mickey’s pet dog. While Goofy, on the other hand, is Mickey’s friend. Goofy is a single dad; he dates other characters. He acts more like a man than a dog or pet. He is courteous yet bashful, friendly and caring. He’s a bit insecure (check out his posture), but loyal -like a dog- to his friends Mickey and Donald Duck.